My favorite album of 2006 so far is Rosanne Cash's Black Cadillac (preview album here). It's a bit puzzling why it hasn't garnered much press or online buzz, as it's probably the best overall album I've heard so far this year (and I was relatively unfamiliar with her music before I heard it). Both heartbreaking and inspirational, it's ultimately about resilience and hope in the face of overwhelming loss, and a few of the songs are so powerful that I can't listen to them -- even after hearing them a dozen times -- without tearing up a little bit. The best songs on the album, notably "Black Cadillac" and "I Was Watching You," are positively life-affirming.

I'm also digging Jenny Lewis' Rabbit Fur Coat, Belle and Sebastian's The Life Pursuit, The Gossip's Standing in the Way of Control, and Film School's s/t. Notable releases that I'm not really feeling include Cat Power's The Greatest (though the title track is great) and Arctic Monkey's Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (though it can be kinda fun in small doses)._________________Michael Scrutchin
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Besides Belle & Sebastian and Jenny Lewis (I love that album), I haven't yet purchased any other 2006 releases. I'll just add that I've been hankering to check out all of your other mentions. I'm even interested in the Arctic Monkeys!_________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Besides Belle & Sebastian and Jenny Lewis (I love that album), I haven't yet purchased any other 2006 releases. I'll just add that I've been hankering to check out all of your other mentions. I'm even interested in the Arctic Monkeys!

You know, I want to love the Jenny Lewis album, but neither the mediocre songwriting or lyrics even begin to live up to Lewis' lovely voice. Her vocals make the album for me (and the Watson Twins are wonderful backup), but many of the songs themselves have grown old far too quickly. I do, however, love "Rise Up With Fists!" It's a killer track, but the album as a whole doesn't get much better than "pretty good" in my book. Glad you're really digging it, though. I love Jenny Lewis as a singer -- any I haven't even heard any Rilo Kiley yet.

The Arctic Monkeys are OK, but I don't understand the insane buzz about them._________________Michael Scrutchin
Flipside Movie Emporium
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You know, I want to love the Jenny Lewis album, but neither the mediocre songwriting or lyrics even begin to live up to Lewis' lovely voice.

I kind of feel that way about a third of the tracks, but I haven't tired of them, at least not yet. Besides, as you said, her voice--along with her sincerity and genuine self-reflection--are the main appeal. She's no Neko Case (who has a once-in-a-generation voice), but there's a very bright future ahead for Jenny Lewis.

"Handle With Care" is a great song, and represents the first time I've been remotely interested in Bright Eyes or Ben Gibbard. (I was already a big M. Ward fan.) I caught Death Cab on ACL the other night, and I remain utterly bored by them. I keep trying, but I guess I just don't hear what everybody else hears.

Michael Scrutchin wrote:

The Arctic Monkeys are OK, but I don't understand the insane buzz about them.

I suspected as much. Never trust the hype, pro or con. I'm still gonna check them out, though._________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

The Arctic Monkeys are OK, but I don't understand the insane buzz about them.

God help me, I'm growing fond of the Arctic Monkeys. It only took a few listens of "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" to finally grab me. I don't know how much staying power they'll have with me, but the album is a lot of fun right now._________________Michael Scrutchin
Flipside Movie Emporium
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I'm still completely enamored with the Jenny Lewis album, but I also can't stop listening to Elbow's Leaders of the Free World. Those are my two favorites of the year so far.

I also like, but not love, the new Destroyer, Belle & Sebastian, and Minus 5 albums, in that order._________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Delivery on my Neko album is delayed, because I went with the free shipping option--and I also had the new Loose Fur in the order, which doesn't come out for another week. Forgot about that. They will ship together. Anyway, I can be patient.

Last night I was at the Riverside for New Pornographers and Belle & Sebastian, and while I was there I visited the box-office. Bought tickets for Neko on March 30, and Jenny Lewis tickets for tomorrow night! (Only $10 for Lewis... that's a steal.)_________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

i was going to head over for the jenny lewis show tomorrow but have decided on seeing josh rouse in madison in april and neko in mke on the 30th. please let me know how she is. did you have to pay all the extraordinary fees when you bought at the box office. neko is going to cost me about $25 if i buy on the web.

i saw the new pornos w/matt pond pa and dios(malos) a few weeks back in madison. wonderful show. check out matt pond pa if you haven't before. also saw wilco in chapel hill last week. eh. wilco is so calculated now. i think i'm done with wilco live shows.

did you have to pay all the extraordinary fees when you bought at the box office.

Nope. There were fees, but they were negligible compared to buying tix online.

Jack D Ripper wrote:

check out matt pond pa if you haven't before.

I heard a bunch of Matt Pond PA mp3s last year, and found them rather unimpressive. When I saw them open for Guster in Chicago, I hoped my opinion would improve, but no dice. Didn't hear anything that would inspire me to dig deeper.

Jack D Ripper wrote:

wilco is so calculated now.

I'm not really sure what you mean, but I know I disagree; after all, U2 is calculated, not Wilco. The band is certainly different these days, but I still feel that Wilco live is the best show going right now. Two of my five favorite shows ever are my two most recent Wilco shows.

Jack D Ripper wrote:

i have the new loose fur already, it's good.

I've heard 3-4 tracks, and like them. I usually resist downloading early or checking out advance leaks... there's something about being patient and tearing open the plastic on release day that I still find appealing._________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

God help me, I'm growing fond of the Arctic Monkeys. It only took a few listens of "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" to finally grab me. I don't know how much staying power they'll have with me, but the album is a lot of fun right now.

It's hard to articulate how much I detest the Arctic Monkeys. You cannot escape them here. Since one of the kids has fallen prey to the 'buzz', I'm not even free in my own home. I must seek solace in Bauhaus or Public Image. Or possibly Richard Thompson. He could show those idiots in the Arctic Monkey what a guitar's for.

I'm still completely enamored with the Jenny Lewis album, but I also can't stop listening to Elbow's Leaders of the Free World. Those are my two favorites of the year so far.

Both of these albums have had staying power for me, but both have been supplanted as my favorite by Neko Case. That album just keeps growing in stature--unlike Jenny Lewis, whose lyrics are sometimes iffy, Neko is a real songwriter, and her voice is simply majestic. I can honestly say that I adore every single track on Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.

Right now I'm eagerly anticipating the Raconteurs and the new Guster._________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Well, it's that time again? I bought 35 albums this year and I feel like I haven?t had nearly enough time to digest those, let alone all the worthy stuff I haven?t gotten around to yet. Anyway, here?s what I listened to the most in 2006, in rank order:

EDIT: Forgot about Beck. I'd place The Information somewhere near the middle of the list._________________"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Well, it's that time again? I bought 35 albums this year and I feel like I haven?t had nearly enough time to digest those, let alone all the worthy stuff I haven?t gotten around to yet.

Nice list. Many of those would be on mine, and there are a few I haven't heard yet. Have you heard Drive-By Truckers' A Blessing and a Curse? It was released this past year and it served as my introduction to the band, who I now dig immensely. They're a killer hard southern rock band (some call 'em alt-country, but I don't think that's accurate) and they seem to appeal to a lot of the same people who like Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Whiskeytown, and My Morning Jacket. A Blessing and a Curse isn't the best Drive-By Truckers album, but it's certainly one of my favorite albums of 2006._________________Michael Scrutchin
Flipside Movie Emporium
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